Question

After reviewing Zinn's and Schweikart's personal assumptions, beliefs, and values as well as excerpts from their historical writing, respond to the following questions:What do you believe to be the major distinctions in their personal assumptions, beliefs, and values?What do you believe to be the major distinctions in their interpretations of history?Do you notice any biases? If so, what are they?

Answer 1

What do you believe to be the major distinctions in their personal assumptions, beliefs, and values?

There are significant differences in Zinn's and Schweikart's personal assumptions, beliefs, and values. Zinn used to believe that minority perspective on things are not given and everyone including the minority should have a voice. He used to believe that government is biased.

On the other hand, Schweikart focused on facts rather than the perspective views. He used to believe that limited government involvement is the fundamental to a strong US economy.

What do you believe to be the major distinctions in their interpretations of history?

Zinn believed that people are dissatisfied with the traditional history. He didn’t believe in neutrality as people were already starving because of war. He wanted to change things in the world. Zinn seems to be more open minded and practical.

Schweikart put more emphasise on what he feels and believes. Schweikert believed that as the American economy still remained the most productive in the world there is no need to change and if people are dissatisfied, they can be taught accordingly.

Do you notice any biases? If so, what are they?

Yes, the bias is that Zinn considered things only from the point of view of the common people. He used to believe that all the histories are explained from the point of view of the powerful and wealthy people and so histories themselves are biased.